Tape-measure using and holder assembly

Abstract

An improved tape-measure using and holding assembly (10) that includes a tape measuring cavity (24) and an adjacent implement cavity (26). Into the cavity (24) is inserted and held a conventional tape measure (50) that includes a tape-release, slide-lock (52) and a spring-biased measuring tape (54). Into the cavity (26) may be inserted a variety of pencils, pens and other small implements used in the trade. The assembly (10) which is integrally and preferably made of a hard impact plastic has a right section (14) that includes a tape-release slot (14E) through which projects the tape-release slide-lock (52) and a tape-measure opening (14F) through which the measuring tape (54) maybe extended and retracted to allow tape measurements to be made while the tape measure (50) is securely held within the cavity (24). On the back surface of the back section (18) of the assembly (10), is located a pair of protrusions (181) having belt slots (18J) through which is inserted a waist belt. The assembly (10) features a light assembly (34) attached above the tape measuring opening (14F). When the light assembly (34) is activated, by pressing on a momentary-on switch (34F) located on a housing attached to the front section (14), a housing battery causes a light bulb (34B) to illuminate to allow the tape markings to be easily read in low-light areas.

I claim: 
     
       1. An improved tape-measure and implements using and holding assembly comprising: a) a left section having front, back and bottom edges,   b) a right section having front, back and bottom edges, a tape-release slot and a tape-measure opening,   c) a front section having a top edge, a bottom edge, and left and right edges that are integrally formed with the front edges of said left and right sections,   d) a back section having a bottom edge, and left and right edges that are integrally formed with the back edges of said left and right sections, and having on its back surface a pair of protrusions each having belt slots therethrough,   e) a bottom section having upper and lower surfaces that integrally interfaces with the bottom edges of said left, right, front and back sections, and   f) a partition slat that interfaces with said front and back sections, wherein said assembly is sized to form a tape-measure holding cavity and an adjacent implements holding cavity, wherein a tape measure having an extendable measuring tape and a tape-release slide-lock is insertable into said tape-measure cavity such that the slide-lock projects through the tape-release slot and the extendable measuring tape is extendable and retractable through the tape-measure opening, and pencils, pens and other elongated implements used in the carpentry trade are insertable into said implement cavity.   
     
     
       2. The assembly as specified in claim 1 wherein said front section further having an opening that projects downward from said top edge. 
     
     
       3. The assembly as specified in claim 2 wherein said opening has a semi-circular shape. 
     
     
       4. The assembly as specified in claim 1 wherein said implement cavity is constructed by having: a) a first channel located vertically between the left edge and the opening of said front section, and   b) a second channel located vertically on said back section in alignment with the first channel, wherein said partition slat is insertable into the first and second channels.   
     
     
       5. The assembly as specified in claim 4 wherein said partition slat further comprises serrated gripping surface on at least one upper side thereof wherein the gripping surface allows said slat to be removed when a wider tape measure is to be inserted into the tape-measure cavity. 
     
     
       6. The assembly as specified in claim 1 further comprising a belt clip having an inward section and an outward section, wherein the inward section is centrally and vertically attached, by an attachment means, to the back surface of said back section between the pair of protrusions. 
     
     
       7. The assembly as specified in claim 6 wherein said belt clip attachment means comprises: a) at least one belt-clip bore substantially centered between said belt protrusions,   b) at least one clip bore located on the inward section of said belt-clip, and   c) at least one rivet inserted into the at least one belt-clip bore and clip bore.   
     
     
       8. The assembly as specified in claim 1 further comprising a light assembly comprising: a) a combination light socket and hood, where into the light socket is inserted a light bulb, and the light socket and hood is attached by an attachment means, to said right section between the tape-release slot and the tape-measure opening, and   b) an enclosed battery and switch housing attached to the front surface of said front section by an attachment means, where said housing encloses a momentary-on switch and battery that is electrically connected to the switch, such that when said switch is depressed, the battery energizes the light bulb which then is capable of illuminating incremental markings on an extended measuring tape.   
     
     
       9. The assembly as specified in claim 8 further comprises: a) a light socket and hood bore in said right section located between the tape-release slot and the tape-measured opening, wherein the light socket includes a pair of electrical contacts, and wherein the socket is inserted into the light socket and hood bore and held therein by said attachment means, such that when the socket is attached, the hood section extends outward away from the front surface of the right section with the hood covering the upper portion of the light bulb,   b) a pair of battery-contact bores in the front section wherein a pair of battery-contact rods are attached such that said rods have back ends that are substantially flush with the back surface of said front section and front ends that project outward from the front surface of said front section,   c) a pair of electrical conductors connected between the electrical contacts on the back end of the light socket section and the contacts on the back end of the battery rods,   d) an enclosed battery and switch housing attached to the front surface of said front section wherein the housing has a front plate having a switch bore therethrough,   e) a compression spring located within the housing,   f) a switch plunger located within said housing and having a button section that projects through the switch bore on said front plate, and   g) a battery located within the housing between the spring and the back surface of the switch plunger, with the battery having a pair of electrical contacts that make contact with the front ends of the battery-contact rods, wherein when contact is made, the light bulb is illuminated to.   
     
     
       10. The assembly as specified in claim 1 wherein said back section further having a tape-measure attachment bore centrally located therethrough, where into said tape-measure attachment bore is inserted a tape measure bolt that is sized to be threaded into a threaded bore located on the back surface of some models of said tape measure, such that, said tape measure is secured to said tape-measure holding assembly. 
     
     
       11. The assembly as specified in claim 1 further comprising a strip of a hook fastener attached to the upper surface of said bottom section, wherein said hook strip interfaces with a strip of loop fastener, that is attached to a bottom surface of said tape measure such that when the hook and loop fastener interface, the tape measuring is securely held in place.